He didn’t, though, say he was taking a sabbatical from all forms of social media.

The weekend before he’s scheduled to throw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game, the Heisman-winning Texas A&M quarterback took in the San Antonio Spurs game against the Miami Heat Sunday night. That (again) led to an epic sports photo-op: the reigning king of college football and The King, The Chosen One himself, LeBron James.

It’s the progression of things that I think has most people concerned about. What will he do next? He does have a history of not making the best choices. I think it’s the image that he is projecting that turns people off and critical of him.

WOW J.T.! Man crush maybe??? You are the only writer/sport authority I’ve read/heard who thinks he’s handling it well!? Yeah, God bless you John for being a college kid(well, minus the attending classes part)?? Or is this an SEC crush J.T.?? The “King” of college football??? Hmmm, wonder what Mr. Clowney would think about that?? Anyway, keep up the fantastic journalism. Where his John M’s next stop? World Cup qualifier, NASCAR, the Masters maybe?? He sure does have a lot of free time on his hands with that tough course schedule…oops.

We’ll see how well he handles it this fall. The good ones do it once. The great ones repeat it.

Deb says:Apr 3, 2013 1:16 PM

@bigdinla …

AJ’s done some partying and some tweeting. He doesn’t get the media attention Manziel gets because he’s not a Heisman winner, and Texas is a bigger media market. Throwing out a ball at a Rangers game and attending a San Antonio Spurs game isn’t jet-setting. This is all occurring in Texas. If Alabama had pro sports, AJ would probably attend games and probably take photo ops with pro players.

You’re right that it may go to Manziel’s head. I don’t like athletes from my college or pro teams using Twitter because it can create problems and be a distraction. But so far, I just see a kid with a good sense of humor enjoying himself.

Deb says:Apr 3, 2013 1:18 PM

@tgaustin …

Since JT is an Ohio State fan, I don’t think he’s acting out an SEC crush.

Are you upset because Mack passed on RG III AND Johnny Football because they did not fit his guidelines for QB?

Since when are online courses easy?

Sounds like a bitter Longhorn fan that still hasn’t recovered from the last time we played.

Roll Tide.

P.S. Thanks for opening up Texas to the SEC for football recruiting big time. We thank you for the recruit you thought you had.

barbeaux says:Apr 3, 2013 1:30 PM

“What will he do next?” That’s leading to a slippery slope fallacy. Anyhow, he comes from a wealthy family, he’s a great athlete and had an amazing season. He’s not out raping or pillaging so who cares?

To answer your first question, Mack passed on RG111 the same as every other school in the country, including Alabama. We had a QB at that time, Garrett GIlbert(who ended up being a bust) who was the Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of highschool. Second, there was no question as to John Manziel’s athletic ability, it was his attitude and how much trouble that attitude was going to get him into(trust me, this was a known fact amongst the Highschool Coaches). He was know as the “walking time bomb”. Luckily for John M., he got his arrest out of the way earlier than later). Why did Alabama pass on both kids??

Your question on the “on-line classes” doesn’t deserve an answer.

Bitter?? Texas almost won that game with a true freshman at QB! Not to mention the Longhorns out gained the Tide in yards for the game.

Lastly, who is “we”?? Hind sight is always 20/20 my friend.

Deb says:Apr 3, 2013 4:40 PM

@tgaustin …

I liked Gilbert. Thought he showed tremendous poise when he was thrown into the NC game against Bama. Very disappointed things turned out as they did for him.

If Texas were my team’s rival, I’d enjoy ragging on them about passing on Manziel, too. But agree with you on this one. QB is almost always a crap shoot. For every Luck and Peyton Manning, who perform as predicted (easier for me to talk NFL QBs), there are dozens of Ryan Leafs. Whatever promise Manziel showed in high school, I can think of many reasons colleges might have ignored him–his height, for one (I’d bet he’s as close to his 6’1″ listing as I am). Part of the fun of the sport is seeing a guy like Manziel make magic once he gets his shot. Now I’m looking forward to seeing whether he can keep it going.

As an Aggie, some of this stuff worries me. Not terribly, but a little. I like all fans, could care less about what classes he takes or the format he takes them in. @tgaustin, if you say you would have thought any less of VY for taking online classes, you’re full of ish.

I obviously worry about his head getting too big. I think his parents haven’t done a great job of keeping him grounded, but lets be honest, they are letting him live the life, most of us only dream of. Will he take a step back this year on the field… only time will tell

Nice piece of revisionist history. Mack wanted RG III And Manziel to play defensive backs in that point a minute Texas defense. You made my point by stating that Mack wanted the atypical QB (6’5″)to fill the QB at Texas, it doesn’t always work.

Funny thing, you state that is was well known of Manziel’s “attittude” among Texas High School football coaches. Interesting, could it be the same Tyler Texas football coach that pleaded with Manziel’s grandparents to have Johnny move back to Tyler from Kerrville Tivy and live with them so Tyler could have a run for a State Championship?

Truth is, most HS football coaches only have a modicum of knowledge about
the talent around the state of Texas until playoff times roll around. You listen to most coaches, they are more interested in hyping their own kids and their own program before they start talking about kids they play against. I’ve been to more than enough coaches conventions to “filter” what is fact and what is
Bevo excrement.

As to the hallow victory of having more yards than Bama, What exactly was the score of the National Championship game between Texas and Alabama?

Bueller? Bueller?

We didn’t recruit either because we were loaded already. We didn’t need them, because heaven forbid someone might just accuse us of “over signing” or “gray
shirting”, something Mack NEVER does, right? Face it, Alabama OWNED Texas that evening and embarrassed Mack so much, Mack decided to build an “SEC type” defense and have a ball control running game ala Saban. Trouble is
Texas has no idea of what it wants to do within it’s boutique conference.

Do we build a pro type offense or go spread option? Only Mack knows.

We, refers are our brothers from the fellow SEC schools, including that fine institution, Texas A&M University. They have great fans and are an excellent
addition to our league. If I had road games to such meccas as Lubbock, Stillwater, Ames, Manhattan, Morgantown, Lawrence, Waco, and Ft Worth, I’d have SEC envy too. Austin and Norman are okay, but you choose to have your rivalry game in Dallas in order to attract people…must be the corndogs at the State Fair

Roll Tide

barbeaux says:Apr 3, 2013 10:35 PM

I don’t think Alabama embarrassed Texas in that NC game. Texas wasn’t blown out. The team that Alabama did completely embarrass was Notre Dame. That was complete domination.

I don’t always see eye to eye with you, but thank you for those comments. Very well said.

@Amos,
You obviously know nothing about Highschool football in the state of Texas…you just made yourself sound ridiculous. The relationships with said Highschool coaches is critical in recruiting. You rip towns like Lubbock, Waco and Fort Worth??? You have obviously never been to College Station, Tx…ignorance is bliss. I guess you knew already that RG111 and John M. were going to be Heisman winners too?? Alabama didn’t need them huh?? So lame, so lame.

@Goodnohitorfield
75-37-5….Texas’ all time record against Aggie!! Scoreboard all day every day! At least you guys won the last meeting…oh wait, oops. HEAD SHOT!

Evidently Saban has done just fine recruiting players to HIS system. How many National Championship in the last three years has Saban won using players he recruited to his system?

Crickets

What has Mack done since LOSING to Alabama in the National Championship game?

Crickets

What is Mack’s record since the National Championship game?

Crickets

Why is Mack in a quandary deciding between the spread option and a pro set?

Crickets

In 40 plus years in my chosen career, I’ve been to every campus in the BCS conferences. Ever been in Lubbock during a sandstorm? How about Manhattan pr Norman in a tornado? Is it true that Baylor coeds don’t dance close because the school thinks that the coeds are having sex standing up? Ames is a real hoot on a Saturday njght.

As to Tx High school football, the pedigree is long and distinguished. Tommy Kramer comes immediately to mind when John Ferrara asked me to help to Tommy to Rice. Same with Cuero’s Arthur Whittington and Alois Blackwell. There have been many, many others. Kubiak from Houston St Pius, I almost forgot. My last tie to Texas college football was kid named Matt Sign who I assisting his dad go to have Matt go to Rice.
Imagine a 5’10” nose tackle who made all SWC and Courtney Hall, a 16 year who played for Rice and then in the NFL.

The pedigree is rich and warm with memories and I wouldn’t trade one moment for all the tea in China.

Oh and regarding College Station, They were very hospitable and refreshing polite when I went to the LSU game wearing my Alabama
shirt. I was regaled with tales of Junction, Gene Stallings, and Bear. The food and new friendships were enjoyed immensely. Better that Austin which I found pretentious and shallow, Sort of like what you saw in the Cotton Bowl last fall when UT lost to OU. Crickets on the Texas side in the third quarter.

Oh, BTW, did you ever answer what the score was of the UT/Alabama
National Championship game was, or are you content thumping your chest
on yardage stats?

Longhorn beat up on little brother when they were kids because he was bigger. Then in the 70’s, when they started limiting scholarships, little brother grew up and has held his own since then. Then little brother moved away and got a better job and hotter wife than Longhorn. Now Longhorn doesn’t have anyone to beat up on to make himself feel better after the bully across the river whips his ass every year. Then little brother offers to come back play Longhorn even though he moved away, but Longhorn’s pride is too big, so Longhorn lies and says he’s busy.

Then little brother’s wife gets REALLY hot! Longhorn is jealous, so he tries to convince everyone that little brother’s wife is a tramp, all the while knowing that no one cares, and realizing that the wife he has to go home to has gotten fat and ugly, and sex with her will be miserable.

I snorted the morning coffee over the computer screen when I read your post.(no, you don’t owe me a screen.)

The University of Texas has an inferiority complex. They have had it since 1967 under Frank Irwin and still continues today. As an Aggie, you know all about how Texas has to control everything.

Notice with it’s dealings with conference members,it’s Texas’s way or the highway. Ask Nebraska,ask Colorado, ask Missouri. Yet Texas thinks institutions and conferences should bend to their will. Don’t think so? Why did Texas go conference shopping mere days after their loss to Alabama in the National Championship football game only to be turned down by the B1g? Because Texas wants what is best for Texas and screw everybody else.

Why did the PAC-12 turn down Bill Powers inquiry in a move to the PAC-12 along
with OU, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State? PAC-12 presidents and chancellors saw through Bill Powers scheme to enhance the LHN through the PAC-12 cable/satellite contracts. When asked by the PAC-12 commissioner if Texas would subordinate the LHN under conference control for the duration of the ESPN contract. Powers told the commissioner that Deloss Dodds was in charge of that.
There has been no contact since.

Explain why FSU not only said no, but hell no to Texas inquiry for them to join the Big 12? Administrators and faculty said they didn’t want a move because of low
academics in the conference.

Now the University of Texas is in a major fight with the State Legislature on multiple FOI requests that the Legislature has repeatedly asked for and Texas has
said screw you. They have gone so far as to ask the State AG to enjoin such a request. Pure arrogance. Texas is the Captain Queeg of college sports.

In parting, I for one am very glad that both you and Missouri are brothers in the SEC. Both you and Missouri are great additions to the league. The game at Kyle
Field scares the crap out of me and I truly look forward to the September game there.